“We’ve had a great response. In fact, we are full with our vendors this year. We have no spaces left. We’ve had tremendous response, and it seems that people are really, really looking forward to this festival,” Kemner said. “A lot of people also plan reunions or get togethers, so people will come back to Clinton that used to live here. And they come from everywhere in the U.S.”

“It’s looking pretty good, and it’s in the 60s, which is perfect weather for walking around and being outside. Looks like it’s going to be sunny from what I’ve seen on the forecast, and that’s good weather for the festival. Last year was 95 degree heat. That was rough,” Kemner said. “We just hope everyone comes over to Clinton and sees our festival. Come and enjoy it and come and see our beautiful community.”

This year’s festival will also feature two performance stages: the band shell, located on Tecumseh Street on the front lawn of Clinton Middle School, and the Downtown Stage, in the parking lot on Tecumseh Street, between U.S. 12 and Church Street.

Parking will be available at the Clinton High School; Tate Park; Solid Rock Church, 810 Tecumseh St.; Clinton United Methodist Church, 10990 Tecumseh-Clinton Road and the Atlas Distilling Co., at the corner of River and Franklin streets.

Parking is free with the exception of a $3 charge on Saturday to park at Solid Rock Church to benefit the church’s youth program and a $5 charge at the Atlas Distilling Co. lot.

Free shuttle buses will run between the lots and the festival from 9:30 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Event highlights include:

— Dino Roar, an educational show about dinosaurs featuring animatronic costumes, will hold performances during all three days as well as strolling through the festival. The show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Smith Kimball Community Center. Examples of fossils will be available to view. Admission is free.

— The Traveling Riverboat Show is back by popular demand after a couple years’ absence from the festival. It features two performers on a moving mock-riverboat serenading festivalgoers with New Orleans-style jazz. The show will be strolling through the festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

— Roscoe the clown will be performing for kids from noon to 1 p.m. Friday at the Downtown Stage.

— The Novi-based musical group Earth Angels will perform from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the band shell. The group features 10- to 18-year-olds performing oldies with singing and dancing.

— Two impersonators of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin will perform a Rat Pack concert from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the band shell.

— Eric the Juggler, the Guiness World Record-holding fire juggler, will perform from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Downtown Stage as well as strolling through the festival until 5 p.m.

— The carnival will be at Tate Park, from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. While the rides require tickets, an all-day wristband can be purchased for $15.

— The Clinton Arts Center’s Gallery 12 will be open with the exhibit “American Spectacle,” paintings from the Richard and Jane Manoogian Foundation. The exhibit features paintings of turn-of-the-century American life.

— The Atlas Distillery will be selling T-shirts and giving tours of their soon-to-open distillery and tasting room.

—The Clinton Festival Queen Contest will be held from 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on the main stage on the front lawn of Clinton Middle School.

— The Michigan High School Rodeo will once again be competing for points with two shows at Tate Park. The highest scorers at the end of the year in various rodeo disciplines will compete at the national competition in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Rodeo events will be noon to 2 p.m. Saturday for the competition and a performance from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with 10 featured riders. Another event with the remaining riders will be at 10 a.m. Sunday. One ticket gains access to all three events and are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 13. Tickets for veterans and seniors are also $5. Children 5 and younger enter for free.

— The live animal petting zoo and camel rides will be at the festival all three days on the lawn between the elementary and middle schools.

— The classic car show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Tate Park.

— The festival concludes Sunday with its Grand Parade, beginning at 2:30 p.m. The parade starts on Kehoe Road, continues on Currier Street and Michigan Avenue and ends on Division Street. As usual, it will begin with an air show provided by Scream’n Rebel Airshows. Attendees are advised to arrive early so they can take their place at around 1:30 p.m. before the parade.

More of the festival’s activities and information can be found online at www.clintonfallfestival.com.

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